-
- Follow QPR Report on Twitter
For cutting-edge, continually-updated, football-only news about QPR: Visit the QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi blog)! Feel free to just read. But your posts are welcome! All views genuinely welcomed!
At Year's End: A Look Back
THE FAN SITES PREVIEWS
- Dave Barton's QueensParkRangersFC - Comprehensive Championship Club-by-Club Assessment
- From Vital Football QPR/Adam Boxer - Season Previews
- Mike - QPR Report
- Clive Whittingham - Loft For Words
- Scott Jones - We are the Rangers Boys
- Former Chairman Bill Power
- Ben Kosky - Kilburn Times
- Longegunmen - QPR Fanz
- Liam Osborne QPR Mad
- Dave Barton - Queens Park Rangers FC
- Paul Finney - Independent Rs
- Dot.org's Drew Garro
- Dave McIntyre
- AKUTR's Dave Thomas
- Vital Football QPR's Adam Boxer
- QPRNet's Simon Skinner Assessment of QPR's Squad: The Defense .... The Midfield.... The Forwards
- LoftforWords's Clive Whittingham - Club by Club - Specifically QPR
IndependentRs - "Vox Populi
1. Adam Boxer/Vital Football QPR
2. ZenithR
3. Kilburn Times Ben Kosky
4. Dave McIntyre
5. Dave Barton
- The Godfather/WATRB Championship Preview
Apologies if any omissions! Just contact me and it will be added
Championship Diamonds Daily Mail/Abigail Montrose
"Young diamonds in the lower leagues: Southampton boss Alan Pardew's guide to the rising stars from QPR to Crystal Palace
....ANGELO BALANTA QPR. Age: 19 COLOMBIAN forward who has come through the ranks at QPR and has scored two goals in 13 games since his debut in 2007. Balanta had three months on loan at Wycombe last season, scoring three goals in 11 games.
- Pardew says: He’s a wide player, so don’t judge him on his goals record. He seems to have found his body and is learning his capabilities. He is a speed machine, lightning quick and has good technique. He will be a big player for QPR this season and I can see him making big waves. Mail
QPR - CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS
- Championship Odds: The Various Bookies
The Guardian/Mikey Stafford and Simon Burnton - Championship
"...Queens Park Rangers
Manager Jim Magilton
One to watch Adel Taarabt, 20
- Bookies installed QPR as favourites for the title a year ago. A year of mild disappointment and a couple of managerial changes later, they are likely to take aim at the play-offs armed with a rapidly-improving squad including the £3.5m Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faulin.
Prediction Play-off possibility"
Complete Guardian Championship Preview
The Independent - Neil Warnock's guide to the Championship season
As the league kicks off tonight, with the battle for promotion promising to be fiercer than ever, the Crystal Palace manager and columnist for The Independent casts his expert eye over the contenders
...Queen's Park Rangers
Manager: Jim Magilton (June 2009) Last season: 11th
- Warnock's verdict: They've spent £3.5m on one player, the biggest signing in the division, and no one has heard of him. I wonder how many times Jim saw Faurlin play. These things happen there on a regular basis, but QPR fans will tell you it's better now than when they were going into administration. Our "local" derby with Charlton has gone – our first reserve game when I took over was there. It's 11 miles on satnav, I took an hour and 45 minutes to get there and missed the start.
- Key stat: Managed only 18 away points last term.
- Key man: Radek Cerny – One of the best keepers in the league last season, with 16 clean sheets.
- Major signings: A Faurlin (Instituto, £3.5m), A Taarabt (Tottenham, loan). Major departures: L Camp, D Blackstock (both Nottm Forest), D Delaney (Ipswich).
- Promotion odds: 7-1 (Ladbrokes). The Independent
BBC Club by Club Championship Guide - QPR
QPR
- How did they do last year? Abysmally compared to the hype they generated, but Paulo Sousa, Gareth Ainsworth and particularly Iain Dowie did well to keep them in the top half given the way the club has been mismanaged.
- Who's the gaffer? Former Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Magilton will be looking to prove Ipswich wrong for sacking him and has a great chemistry with assistant boss John Gorman.
- Who's the player to watch? Midfielder Adel Taarabt is on a season-long loan from Tottenham and could be a star player for Rangers - if he gets his own way.
- How will they do? "QPR are the hardest side in the division to predict," says BBC Sport's David McIntyre. "Last season I confidently wrote off their chances, but now I'm not so sure. Expectations are lower, there are signs co-owner Flavio Briatore is taking a back seat and Rangers do have some good players. I believe they are the one team in that division who could storm away if they could just build up some momentum. The question is whether they can get off the ground. Magilton's first task is to get enough points to avoid a complete disaster, because such a volatile club really could head out of the Championship in either direction."
- Your say - Discuss QPR's chances on 606
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/ArticleSear....phrase=Football
- Complete BBC Championship Guide
Skysports - Championship 09/10
- Some big names will be looking to mount a promotion push when the Coca-Cola Championship season kicks off. We take a look at each team's chances of making it to the Premier League...
Skysports.com looks at each team's chances....
QPR
Manager: Jim Magilton
Position last season: 11th
Ground: Loftus Road
Capacity: 18,682
Players in: Alejandro Faurlin (Instituto, £3.5million), Adel Taarabt (Spurs, loan), Alessandro Pellicori (Avellino, free)
Players out: Liam Miller (released), Zesh Rehman (Bradford, free), Jake Cole (Barnet, free), Danny Maguire (released), Chris Arthur (released), Damien Delaney (Ipswich, undisclosed), Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Jordi Lopez (Swansea, free)
Key man: Akos Buzsaky
Chances: The Championship's billionaires row return for another tilt at the Premier League and if Jim Magilton is still in a job come May they will not be far away.
Prediction: 6th
Sky Bet odds: 14/1
Complete Championship Preview
The Times - Team-by-Team Guide
- "....Queen’s Park Rangers
The QPR revolution hasn’t really worked yet, has it? Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore came in as if they were going to blow Chelsea out the water; instead they have been upstaged by Fulham. Word has it that Jim Magilton, hardly an unequivocal success in three years in charge of Ipswich Town, is likely to have to dance to his employers’ tune. His first three signings this summer have been Alejandro Faurlin, an Argentinian midfield player costing a distinctly un-Championship £3.5 million, Abel Taarabt, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and Alessandro Pellicori, an Italian journeyman forward. Proof that rich owners does not necessarily mean rich pickings.
- Prediction: 18 - The Times
The Telegraph - The new Championship season begins on Aug 8 - how will the teams will fare? - By Steve Wilson, Sam Green and David Edbrooke
QPR
Premier class: Wayne Routledge
A player signed by Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill must have something going for him, even if Routledge has so far failed to live up to his early promise
Championship fare: The self-styled 'richest club in the world' have so far failed to turn hard cash in to success on the pitch.
PREDICTION: Play-off contenders but on the outside looking in. Telegraph
Preston Official Site - Championship Preview: QPR to WBA
With the brand new Championship season all but upon us, now seems to be the perfect time for PNE.com to assess all the runners and riders in English football's second tier.
We look inside each squad to see who's in, who's out, and crucially, how they're rated by 'The Insider', who is back for the start of the new season to advise who you should be backing via PNEBetting.com....This third part of our preview looks at the teams from Q to W.
QPR
Manager - Jim Magilton
Last Season (finishing position) - 11th
Ins: Alejandro Damian Faurlin (Instituto), Alessandro Pellicori (Avellino), Adel Taarabt (Tottenham)
Outs: Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest), Damien Delaney (Ipswich), Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest), Jake Cole (Barnet), Zesh Rehman (Bradford City), Chris Arthur (Released), Reece Crowther (Released), Danny Maguire (Released), Liam Miller (Released)
- Like many of their rivals for the top six, QPR have been very active in the transfer market with big money signings arriving at Loftus Road and some pounds recouped at the other end.
- The R's also have a new man in the dugout in Jim Magilton and the billionaire owners of the Club will be hoping his experience of managing in the Championship will be the difference for them this year.
- Premiership experience provided by the likes of Taarabt, Routledge and Helguson will give them an added edge and they also have the backing of some rather large pockets should things not be looking too rosy come the January transfer window.
- The Insider Says: Magilton's men were in the running for a Play-Off position for the majority of last season and that is likely to be what they will be doing this campaign. It will all hinge on how well the former Ipswich boss can mould the undoubted talent he has at his disposal into a unit that can get points home and away. Consistency on their travels and in West London will see QPR challenge for a Play-Off position at least this year.
Verdict: Top Ten
Championship Odds: 16/1 - Preston
Eurosport -The Coca-Cola Football League Championship - Countdown: Queens Park Rangers
-- Eurosport.yahoo.com continues its countdown to the Championship season with a look at cash-rich QPR.
- Manager: Jim Magilton
-Last 10 Seasons
(1999/2000 to 2008/2009): 10/19/-/-/-/11/21/18/14/11
POSSIBLE STARTING XI:
Radek Cerny
Damion Stewart - Kaspars Gorkss - Peter Ramage - Matthew Connolly
Mikele Leigertwood - Lee Cook - Alejandro Faurlin - Martin Rowlands
Rowan Vine - Heidar Helguson
- BACK-UPS FROM: Niki-Lee Bulmer - Fitz Hall - Joe Oastler - Gary Borrowdale - Gavin Mahon - Wayne Routledge - Akos Buzsaky - Matteo Alberti - Hogan Ephraim - Gareth Ainsworth - Romone Rose - Patrick Agyemang - Angelo Balanta - Ray Jones - Antonio German
- TRANSFERS:
- In - Alejandro Faurlin (Instituto, £3.5m), Adel Tarabt (Tottenham, loan)
- Out - Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest), Jordi Lopez (Swansea), Jake Cole (Barnet), Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest), Damien Delaney (Ipswich), Zesh Rehman (Bradford)
- POSITIVES: With all their riches, the 'Manchester City of the Championship' will always be able to outbid most clubs in the transfer market. If they can add the right quality to their squad they will no doubt be a team to look out for this season.
- NEGATIVES: A feature of cash-rich teams is often a trigger-happy chairman and R's owner Flavio Briatore (pictured) has already pinned his colours to the mast with a regular procession of fired managers. Since Ian Holloway left the club in 2006 there have been nine managerial changes, culminating in Jim Magilton's appointment. With this kind of instability at the club, it remains to be seen if the latest boss can bring the instant success the owner so craves.
- VERDICT: R's fans have already expressed their disappointment at the appointment of Magilton, but he is a man who knows the division well and, although he is not the big name fans wanted, he may yet prove to be exactly what the ambitious London outfit need at this moment in time to progress. 7th.
Mario Hajiloizis / Eurosport
The Times/John Aizelwood - The Championship Countdown
- Big spenders...
- Queens Park Rangers The Loftus Road money men are yet to flash the silly cash but the temperamental Adel Taarabt has arrived from Tottenham for another loan spell. The £3.5m spent on the Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin and the arrival of Italian striker Alessandro Pellicori have excited and baffled in equal measure...."
...To go up
West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United
Playoffs
Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Cardiff City
To go down
Scunthoorpe, Plymouth, Barnsley - The Times
The Independent/Tom Jones - Championship preview: The season ahead
"....Queens Park Rangers
In: A Pellicori (Avellimo, free), A Taarabt (Spurs, loan).
Out: D Blackstock (Nottm Forest, undisc), L Camp (Nottm Forest, undisc), D Delaney (Ipswich, undisc), J Cole (Barnet, free), Z Rehman (Bradford, free)
Manager: Jim Magilton. Key man: Damion Stewart.
Last season: 10th. Title odds: 19-1. Prediction: 10th. Pressure will be on Magilton if expectations exceed results. Independent
News of the World/Martin Hardy - Championship Guide
QPR
- JIM MAGILTON has the task of returning Rangers to the Premier League for the first time in 14 years after a season which saw three managers fail to deliver Flavio Briatore's vision of "boutique football".
- He sets out to succeed where Iain Dowie, Paulo Sousa and Gareth Ainsworth could not - and having failed to deliver in three years at Ipswich.
- Magilton will not complain at Briatore's rumoured meddling in team affairs. He said: "I value the opinions of everyone at the club - but in the end they'll agree that I'm right!"
KEY MAN: Akos Buzsaky
News of the World
Ian Holloway/Sunday Mirror - Ralph Ellis - Championship Guide
...QPR
Manager: Jim Magilton
Unknown quantities. What will that money bring them? Too many changes too much instability. Jim Magilton has good players and if he gets a chance can give them leadership.
MY KEY MAN: MARTIN ROWLANDS
ODDS: 12/1
Click to Read entire Championship Preview
Sporting Life/PA Sport - Pete Thompson
"...- New QPR manager Jim Magilton will also be under pressure to succeed as the wealthy Londoners look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 1996.
-Magilton has splashed out £3.5million on Argentinian playmaker Alejandro Faurlin to raise expectations levels even higher at Loftus Road." Sporting Life
And Teletext Championship Guide
"... QPR: New boss Jim Magilton has purged an under-performing Rangers squad and Adel Taarabt has rejoined on loan, but they may struggle to improve on last season's 11th place in a competitive division. Prediction: 12th - Teletext
- Football League Championship Preview
- Independent: Championship Players to Watch
- Football League: Championship Players - Ones to Watch
- BBC's Paul Fletcher Championship Preview
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Pages
▼
Thursday, December 31, 2009
QPR Report Thursday: Buzsaky Wants QPR Stay...Watson Departs...To Cardiff?...A second Ex-Loanee to Cardiff?...Helguson Future?...Defending Paul Hart
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- A QPR/Tampa Bay Rowdies Fan to be writing regularly reflecting Views of Rodney Marsh
QPR Official Site - WATSON RETURNS TO LATICS - Ben Watson has rejoined Wigan Athletic following the completion of his loan spell with QPR. The 24 year-old midfielder played 16 times for the R's, scoring two goals.
QPR FC would like to place on record its thanks to Ben during his time with the Club.
QPR
- Cardiff Target Midfielder Watson
- Ex-QPR Loanee, Steven Reid to Cardiff?
- Four Year Flashback: Holloway Expresses Concern re His QPR Job (and Chairman Paladini Expresses his Support)
- Holloway's Teddy Bear Team Tactics
- Peter Reid supposedly one of the Bolton Job Favourites. (Also Darren Ferguson)
- Portsmouth Financial Update
- Chelsea Financial Update
- New Years Honours: None for QPR!
- Helguson? According to Sporting Life: "...Meanwhile, Boss Malky Mackay could be forced into the January bargain bucket with talks on extending the loan stays of Henri Lansbury and Heidar Helguson stalling." Sporting Life
London Informer/Yann Tear - Buzsaky: I want to stay at QPR
- AKOS Buzsaky insists being at the centre of the great 'headbutt' scandal that brought about the departure of Jim Magilton has not soured his relationship with the club.
- There has inevitably been speculation that Rangers will offload the Hungarian in January after a dip in form and that infamous alleged spat with the former boss at Watford a few weeks ago.
- But that does not mean Buzsaky is seeking a way out of Loftus Road.
- He said: "I don't really want to talk about all that but I have another two years contract and I'm really happy here.
- "I love QPR and I love London. Everybody who knows me, knows I'm happy and why would I want to leave this club if I'm happy?
- "The only thing I'm thinking about is getting back to playing well again. I had an injury to my left knee and I was out for 10 days so it was really important for me to come back in the team and cross fingers, it is OK now." London Informer
Daily Mail/Leo Spall "Leo's London"...re Paul Hart
- "...Paul Hart doesn't deserve a hard time for using his tried and tested methods at QPR.
- Rangers fans don't seem to have been impressed by first impressions of how the team might play under their new manager.
- But the Championship is a division where teams must grind out results if they want to stay in contention near the top.
- Rangers have flair in abundance but in the final few games of Jim Magilton's reign they forgot how to defend.
- If Hart can remind them and find the right balance the squad is good enough to win promotion.
- He has only been given a contract until the end of the season anyway so there is little point getting impatient with him while he keeps the seat warm." Mail
- Helping QPR Market Members
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
QPR Official Site ...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
-QPR
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- A QPR/Tampa Bay Rowdies Fan to be writing regularly reflecting Views of Rodney Marsh
QPR Official Site - WATSON RETURNS TO LATICS - Ben Watson has rejoined Wigan Athletic following the completion of his loan spell with QPR. The 24 year-old midfielder played 16 times for the R's, scoring two goals.
QPR FC would like to place on record its thanks to Ben during his time with the Club.
QPR
- Cardiff Target Midfielder Watson
- Ex-QPR Loanee, Steven Reid to Cardiff?
- Four Year Flashback: Holloway Expresses Concern re His QPR Job (and Chairman Paladini Expresses his Support)
- Holloway's Teddy Bear Team Tactics
- Peter Reid supposedly one of the Bolton Job Favourites. (Also Darren Ferguson)
- Portsmouth Financial Update
- Chelsea Financial Update
- New Years Honours: None for QPR!
- Helguson? According to Sporting Life: "...Meanwhile, Boss Malky Mackay could be forced into the January bargain bucket with talks on extending the loan stays of Henri Lansbury and Heidar Helguson stalling." Sporting Life
London Informer/Yann Tear - Buzsaky: I want to stay at QPR
- AKOS Buzsaky insists being at the centre of the great 'headbutt' scandal that brought about the departure of Jim Magilton has not soured his relationship with the club.
- There has inevitably been speculation that Rangers will offload the Hungarian in January after a dip in form and that infamous alleged spat with the former boss at Watford a few weeks ago.
- But that does not mean Buzsaky is seeking a way out of Loftus Road.
- He said: "I don't really want to talk about all that but I have another two years contract and I'm really happy here.
- "I love QPR and I love London. Everybody who knows me, knows I'm happy and why would I want to leave this club if I'm happy?
- "The only thing I'm thinking about is getting back to playing well again. I had an injury to my left knee and I was out for 10 days so it was really important for me to come back in the team and cross fingers, it is OK now." London Informer
Daily Mail/Leo Spall "Leo's London"...re Paul Hart
- "...Paul Hart doesn't deserve a hard time for using his tried and tested methods at QPR.
- Rangers fans don't seem to have been impressed by first impressions of how the team might play under their new manager.
- But the Championship is a division where teams must grind out results if they want to stay in contention near the top.
- Rangers have flair in abundance but in the final few games of Jim Magilton's reign they forgot how to defend.
- If Hart can remind them and find the right balance the squad is good enough to win promotion.
- He has only been given a contract until the end of the season anyway so there is little point getting impatient with him while he keeps the seat warm." Mail
- Helping QPR Market Members
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
QPR Official Site ...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
-QPR
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Cardiff Reportedly Want QPR/Wigan's Ben Watson
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- A QPR/Tampa Bay Rowdies Fan on Rodney Marsh: More to come
- Helping QPR Market Members
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
BBC - Cardiff target midfielder Watson
- Wigan Athletic's Ben Watson has emerged as a January transfer target for Dave Jones as he bids to ease Cardiff City's central midfield injury crisis.
Jones is interested in signing the ex-England under-21 player and on-loan QPR midfielder on loan until the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
Cardiff have no fit first-choice centre midfielders as Gavin Rae and Stephen McPhail are out for a few weeks.
While Joe Ledley is playing through the pain barrier as he needs hip surgery.
Watson, who joined Wigan from Crystal Palace for £2m last January, was linked with a season-long move to Cardiff in the summer before signing a four-month deal at Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers.
But his QPR spell is due to end on New Year's Eve and the 24-year-old is believed to be unsettled at Loftus Road after Jim Magilton's sacking earlier this month.
High-flying Cardiff, who are pushing for promotion to the Premier League, are interested in signing Watson.
The fourth-placed Championship club will have to pay half of the player's wages but the two clubs are not thought to have yet spoken about the intricate details of the deal." BBC
QPR Official Site ...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
- Kaspars Gorkss has one simple aim for the New Year - cut out the 'unnecessary' goals the R's have been conceding this season.
- The Latvian international played a major role in QPR's mean defence last term, which saw Radek Cerny pick up the Golden Glove Award for keeping no fewer than 19 clean sheets in all competitions.
- So far this campaign, Rangers have managed just four.
- Reflecting on Monday afternoon's 3-0 loss at Ipswich, Gorkss told www.qpr.co.uk: "We still believe we can finish in the top six, and one of my New Year's resolutions is to keep more clean sheets.
- "If we can do that, I am confident we can reach the play-offs at least."Gorkss' own form has been impressive this season, but the 28-year-old says it is impossible to be content with his own display when the team is unable to keep the opposition out.
- "I'm a defender and when we concede unnecessary goals, I can't be pleased with my own performance," he said bluntly.
- Gorkss is still so upset by the display at Portman Road he apologised at the end of this interview for being so dejected, explaining: "I am still down and can't justify us playing like that."
- Here is a player who clearly cares about the Club's recent form, and is determined to put things right.
- "I really don't know what went wrong at Ipswich," he added. "The early goal destroyed our game plan but we got ourselves together and had some good chances to get back into the game.
- "We didn't play well in the second half, and the result reflected what happened on the pitch after the break.
- "As players we have to take responsibility for the recent results. We had a good spell earlier in the season but our problem is we aren't consistent enough.
- "We have drawn too many games and conceded far too many goals. As a defender, I definitely take responsibility for that."
- Paul Hart took over the reins at Loftus Road a fortnight ago and Gorkss has been impressed with his new gaffer.
- "He has been in charge for three games and I enjoy training," said the imposing centre-back.
- "The only thing that needs improving is the results on the pitch."
- This weekend sees the R's take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and Gorkss is desperate for a return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
- "A Cup run can breed confidence and that's what we need to do - get our confidence back," he said.
- "A win at Sheffield United would certainly do that, and then we could work to build on that and have a better second half to the season."
- "I wouldn't say that it is good to get away from the pressure of the league. When you lose like we did at Ipswich, you want to have another league match right away so that you can put in a good performance and forget all about that game.
- "But our focus now is on the Cup game. The FA Cup is a very exciting competition and we want to progress in it." QPR
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- A QPR/Tampa Bay Rowdies Fan on Rodney Marsh: More to come
- Helping QPR Market Members
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
BBC - Cardiff target midfielder Watson
- Wigan Athletic's Ben Watson has emerged as a January transfer target for Dave Jones as he bids to ease Cardiff City's central midfield injury crisis.
Jones is interested in signing the ex-England under-21 player and on-loan QPR midfielder on loan until the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.
Cardiff have no fit first-choice centre midfielders as Gavin Rae and Stephen McPhail are out for a few weeks.
While Joe Ledley is playing through the pain barrier as he needs hip surgery.
Watson, who joined Wigan from Crystal Palace for £2m last January, was linked with a season-long move to Cardiff in the summer before signing a four-month deal at Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers.
But his QPR spell is due to end on New Year's Eve and the 24-year-old is believed to be unsettled at Loftus Road after Jim Magilton's sacking earlier this month.
High-flying Cardiff, who are pushing for promotion to the Premier League, are interested in signing Watson.
The fourth-placed Championship club will have to pay half of the player's wages but the two clubs are not thought to have yet spoken about the intricate details of the deal." BBC
QPR Official Site ...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
- Kaspars Gorkss has one simple aim for the New Year - cut out the 'unnecessary' goals the R's have been conceding this season.
- The Latvian international played a major role in QPR's mean defence last term, which saw Radek Cerny pick up the Golden Glove Award for keeping no fewer than 19 clean sheets in all competitions.
- So far this campaign, Rangers have managed just four.
- Reflecting on Monday afternoon's 3-0 loss at Ipswich, Gorkss told www.qpr.co.uk: "We still believe we can finish in the top six, and one of my New Year's resolutions is to keep more clean sheets.
- "If we can do that, I am confident we can reach the play-offs at least."Gorkss' own form has been impressive this season, but the 28-year-old says it is impossible to be content with his own display when the team is unable to keep the opposition out.
- "I'm a defender and when we concede unnecessary goals, I can't be pleased with my own performance," he said bluntly.
- Gorkss is still so upset by the display at Portman Road he apologised at the end of this interview for being so dejected, explaining: "I am still down and can't justify us playing like that."
- Here is a player who clearly cares about the Club's recent form, and is determined to put things right.
- "I really don't know what went wrong at Ipswich," he added. "The early goal destroyed our game plan but we got ourselves together and had some good chances to get back into the game.
- "We didn't play well in the second half, and the result reflected what happened on the pitch after the break.
- "As players we have to take responsibility for the recent results. We had a good spell earlier in the season but our problem is we aren't consistent enough.
- "We have drawn too many games and conceded far too many goals. As a defender, I definitely take responsibility for that."
- Paul Hart took over the reins at Loftus Road a fortnight ago and Gorkss has been impressed with his new gaffer.
- "He has been in charge for three games and I enjoy training," said the imposing centre-back.
- "The only thing that needs improving is the results on the pitch."
- This weekend sees the R's take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and Gorkss is desperate for a return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
- "A Cup run can breed confidence and that's what we need to do - get our confidence back," he said.
- "A win at Sheffield United would certainly do that, and then we could work to build on that and have a better second half to the season."
- "I wouldn't say that it is good to get away from the pressure of the league. When you lose like we did at Ipswich, you want to have another league match right away so that you can put in a good performance and forget all about that game.
- "But our focus now is on the Cup game. The FA Cup is a very exciting competition and we want to progress in it." QPR
Gorkss Speaks
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Helping QPR Market Members
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site
...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Kaspars Gorkss has one simple aim for the New Year - cut out the 'unnecessary' goals the R's have been conceding this season.
The Latvian international played a major role in QPR's mean defence last term, which saw Radek Cerny pick up the Golden Glove Award for keeping no fewer than 19 clean sheets in all competitions.
So far this campaign, Rangers have managed just four.
Reflecting on Monday afternoon's 3-0 loss at Ipswich, Gorkss told www.qpr.co.uk: "We still believe we can finish in the top six, and one of my New Year's resolutions is to keep more clean sheets.
"If we can do that, I am confident we can reach the play-offs at least."Gorkss' own form has been impressive this season, but the 28-year-old says it is impossible to be content with his own display when the team is unable to keep the opposition out.
"I'm a defender and when we concede unnecessary goals, I can't be pleased with my own performance," he said bluntly.
Gorkss is still so upset by the display at Portman Road he apologised at the end of this interview for being so dejected, explaining: "I am still down and can't justify us playing like that."
Here is a player who clearly cares about the Club's recent form, and is determined to put things right.
"I really don't know what went wrong at Ipswich," he added. "The early goal destroyed our game plan but we got ourselves together and had some good chances to get back into the game.
"We didn't play well in the second half, and the result reflected what happened on the pitch after the break.
"As players we have to take responsibility for the recent results. We had a good spell earlier in the season but our problem is we aren't consistent enough.
"We have drawn too many games and conceded far too many goals. As a defender, I definitely take responsibility for that."
Paul Hart took over the reins at Loftus Road a fortnight ago and Gorkss has been impressed with his new gaffer.
"He has been in charge for three games and I enjoy training," said the imposing centre-back.
"The only thing that needs improving is the results on the pitch."
This weekend sees the R's take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and Gorkss is desperate for a return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
"A Cup run can breed confidence and that's what we need to do - get our confidence back," he said.
"A win at Sheffield United would certainly do that, and then we could work to build on that and have a better second half to the season."
"I wouldn't say that it is good to get away from the pressure of the league. When you lose like we did at Ipswich, you want to have another league match right away so that you can put in a good performance and forget all about that game.
"But our focus now is on the Cup game. The FA Cup is a very exciting competition and we want to progress in it." QPR
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Helping QPR Market Members
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site
...GORKSS: WE MUST TIGHTEN UP
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Kaspars Gorkss has one simple aim for the New Year - cut out the 'unnecessary' goals the R's have been conceding this season.
The Latvian international played a major role in QPR's mean defence last term, which saw Radek Cerny pick up the Golden Glove Award for keeping no fewer than 19 clean sheets in all competitions.
So far this campaign, Rangers have managed just four.
Reflecting on Monday afternoon's 3-0 loss at Ipswich, Gorkss told www.qpr.co.uk: "We still believe we can finish in the top six, and one of my New Year's resolutions is to keep more clean sheets.
"If we can do that, I am confident we can reach the play-offs at least."Gorkss' own form has been impressive this season, but the 28-year-old says it is impossible to be content with his own display when the team is unable to keep the opposition out.
"I'm a defender and when we concede unnecessary goals, I can't be pleased with my own performance," he said bluntly.
Gorkss is still so upset by the display at Portman Road he apologised at the end of this interview for being so dejected, explaining: "I am still down and can't justify us playing like that."
Here is a player who clearly cares about the Club's recent form, and is determined to put things right.
"I really don't know what went wrong at Ipswich," he added. "The early goal destroyed our game plan but we got ourselves together and had some good chances to get back into the game.
"We didn't play well in the second half, and the result reflected what happened on the pitch after the break.
"As players we have to take responsibility for the recent results. We had a good spell earlier in the season but our problem is we aren't consistent enough.
"We have drawn too many games and conceded far too many goals. As a defender, I definitely take responsibility for that."
Paul Hart took over the reins at Loftus Road a fortnight ago and Gorkss has been impressed with his new gaffer.
"He has been in charge for three games and I enjoy training," said the imposing centre-back.
"The only thing that needs improving is the results on the pitch."
This weekend sees the R's take on Sheffield United in the FA Cup, and Gorkss is desperate for a return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
"A Cup run can breed confidence and that's what we need to do - get our confidence back," he said.
"A win at Sheffield United would certainly do that, and then we could work to build on that and have a better second half to the season."
"I wouldn't say that it is good to get away from the pressure of the league. When you lose like we did at Ipswich, you want to have another league match right away so that you can put in a good performance and forget all about that game.
"But our focus now is on the Cup game. The FA Cup is a very exciting competition and we want to progress in it." QPR
QPR's Tommy Williams Called Home By Peterborough...Taarbat Says Staying Whole Season...Cook Reserve Comeback...Further Delaney Criticism re Briatore
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site - WILLIAMS RETURNS TO POSH
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Tommy Williams has been recalled from his loan spell with QPR by parent Club Peterborough.
The 29-year-old defender played five times whilst with the R's.
QPR FC would like to place on record its thanks to Tommy. QPR
Peterbrough Official Site - Williams Back At London Road
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Defender Tommy Williams is back at London Road and available for Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at Tottenham Hotspur.
Williams has been on-loan with Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, but will link-up with Posh on Thursday as preparations continue for the tie at White Hart Lane. Peterborough
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - No early exit for Taarabt
ADEL Taarabt has scotched suggestions that he might cut short his loan spell at Loftus Road and return to Tottenham in January.
Taarabt did consider leaving QPR when he was booed by fans earlier in the season and has been in and out of the starting line-up during recent weeks, prompting speculation about his future.
But the midfielder says Spurs have given no indication that they plan to recall him before the end of the season or loan him to another club when the transfer window opens.
"I'm here until the end of the season and I will not go anywhere else," Taarabt told the Times. "Tottenham have come to see me play here, but they have not said anything to me about going.
"I'm fortunate to be at QPR - I enjoy it here, everyone is good and I want to stay. I'll keep giving it my best here and next season we'll see what happens."
Tottenham have confirmed that the 20-year-old is eligible to represent Rangers in the FA Cup - as long as the clubs are not drawn against each other at a later stage.
For there to be any possibility of that happening, QPR would have to end their nine-year barren run in the competition by knocking out Sheffield United in Sunday's third round tie at Bramall Lane.
The sides drew 1-1 in the Championship at Loftus Road less than a fortnight ago, but Taarabt feels that being away from home may work in the Rs' favour this time.
"I think maybe because Sheffield United are at home they will try to play more than they did in the league game, but that may leave more space for us," he observed.
"It is a difficult game, but of course we'll go there for a win and give 100 per cent. Cup competitions are exciting - we know we could play Premier League teams and at the end of it is Wembley.
"I went to two [Carling] cup finals at Wembley with Tottenham - the first time I was in the squad, the second time I was on the bench, so I would love to play there."
Taarabt started on Monday at Ipswich, but squandered Rangers' two best chances - one a close-range volley - as they were soundly beaten by Roy Keane's struggling side.
"It was very disappointing because I missed two good chances. I should have done better, but I didn't and I'm sorry for that," added Taarabt. "We have to put it right in the next game - it's really important to get a result."
Team-mate Akos Buzsaky has reiterated that he also has no desire to leave, despite reports that he could be sold in the aftermath of the incident that culminated with the departure of manager Jim Magilton.
Buzsaky, who extended his QPR contract to the summer of 2012 at the start of this season, declined to clarify reports of an altercation between himself and Magilton following the 3-1 defeat at Watford.
But the Hungarian international declared: "I'm really happy here. I love QPR, I love London and everybody who knows me knows I'm happy. Why would I want to leave this club?"
Rangers are expected to begin their January recruitment drive in the next few days by bringing Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton back to Loftus Road following his loan spell earlier in the campaign.
They will also pay the league's bottom side Peterborough a small fee to convert their loan agreement for left-back Tommy Williams into a permanent move.
However, Ben Watson's future at QPR may be in doubt after Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hinted that he could recall the midfielder to the DW Stadium.
LEE Cook is pencilled in to make his comeback next week when the Rs' reserve side host Millwall.
The QPR winger has not kicked a ball since the penultimate game of last season following complications with a knee injury.
But Cook returned to first-team training before Christmas and could play for the reserves next Tuesday at Aldershot Town. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times -Delaney denounces Briatore regime
30 December 2009
FORMER QPR defender Damien Delaney has launched a scathing attack on the way Flavio Briatore runs the club, saying they have 'no chance' of success.
Delaney, who left Loftus Road to join Ipswich last summer, slammed Briatore's relentless policy of hiring and firing and insisted Rangers would have won promotion had the co-owner not sacked Iain Dowie.
Writing in Town's match programme on Monday, the Republic of Ireland international said: "When it happens every three months or so, like it does at QPR, you will never be successful. If you run a football club like that, you've got no chance.
"There's been no stability there since Flavio Briatore took over. You can't keep chopping and changing every five minutes - you need continuity, on and off the pitch.
"QPR have had seven managers in the last two years - they can't all be wrong. Look at Iain Dowie - he got sacked after 15 games. We were three points off second place. Crazy.
"The lads loved Dowie and, if he was left in charge, we would have got promoted to the Premier League. I guarantee you that."
However, Delaney was full of praise for QPR's fans, adding: "They are very passionate for their club. They are genuine, good people and they have been promised the earth but it's not been delivered yet.
"I should imagine they are very frustrated. Flavio has been at the club for two years or so now and said he would do this and do that and it's not happened. Kilburn Times
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/ca....3A47%3A11%3A687
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Brian Glanville on QPR, Briatore and Hart
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
QPR Official Site - WILLIAMS RETURNS TO POSH
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Tommy Williams has been recalled from his loan spell with QPR by parent Club Peterborough.
The 29-year-old defender played five times whilst with the R's.
QPR FC would like to place on record its thanks to Tommy. QPR
Peterbrough Official Site - Williams Back At London Road
Posted on: Wed 30 Dec 2009
Defender Tommy Williams is back at London Road and available for Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at Tottenham Hotspur.
Williams has been on-loan with Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, but will link-up with Posh on Thursday as preparations continue for the tie at White Hart Lane. Peterborough
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - No early exit for Taarabt
ADEL Taarabt has scotched suggestions that he might cut short his loan spell at Loftus Road and return to Tottenham in January.
Taarabt did consider leaving QPR when he was booed by fans earlier in the season and has been in and out of the starting line-up during recent weeks, prompting speculation about his future.
But the midfielder says Spurs have given no indication that they plan to recall him before the end of the season or loan him to another club when the transfer window opens.
"I'm here until the end of the season and I will not go anywhere else," Taarabt told the Times. "Tottenham have come to see me play here, but they have not said anything to me about going.
"I'm fortunate to be at QPR - I enjoy it here, everyone is good and I want to stay. I'll keep giving it my best here and next season we'll see what happens."
Tottenham have confirmed that the 20-year-old is eligible to represent Rangers in the FA Cup - as long as the clubs are not drawn against each other at a later stage.
For there to be any possibility of that happening, QPR would have to end their nine-year barren run in the competition by knocking out Sheffield United in Sunday's third round tie at Bramall Lane.
The sides drew 1-1 in the Championship at Loftus Road less than a fortnight ago, but Taarabt feels that being away from home may work in the Rs' favour this time.
"I think maybe because Sheffield United are at home they will try to play more than they did in the league game, but that may leave more space for us," he observed.
"It is a difficult game, but of course we'll go there for a win and give 100 per cent. Cup competitions are exciting - we know we could play Premier League teams and at the end of it is Wembley.
"I went to two [Carling] cup finals at Wembley with Tottenham - the first time I was in the squad, the second time I was on the bench, so I would love to play there."
Taarabt started on Monday at Ipswich, but squandered Rangers' two best chances - one a close-range volley - as they were soundly beaten by Roy Keane's struggling side.
"It was very disappointing because I missed two good chances. I should have done better, but I didn't and I'm sorry for that," added Taarabt. "We have to put it right in the next game - it's really important to get a result."
Team-mate Akos Buzsaky has reiterated that he also has no desire to leave, despite reports that he could be sold in the aftermath of the incident that culminated with the departure of manager Jim Magilton.
Buzsaky, who extended his QPR contract to the summer of 2012 at the start of this season, declined to clarify reports of an altercation between himself and Magilton following the 3-1 defeat at Watford.
But the Hungarian international declared: "I'm really happy here. I love QPR, I love London and everybody who knows me knows I'm happy. Why would I want to leave this club?"
Rangers are expected to begin their January recruitment drive in the next few days by bringing Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton back to Loftus Road following his loan spell earlier in the campaign.
They will also pay the league's bottom side Peterborough a small fee to convert their loan agreement for left-back Tommy Williams into a permanent move.
However, Ben Watson's future at QPR may be in doubt after Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hinted that he could recall the midfielder to the DW Stadium.
LEE Cook is pencilled in to make his comeback next week when the Rs' reserve side host Millwall.
The QPR winger has not kicked a ball since the penultimate game of last season following complications with a knee injury.
But Cook returned to first-team training before Christmas and could play for the reserves next Tuesday at Aldershot Town. Kilburn Times
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times -Delaney denounces Briatore regime
30 December 2009
FORMER QPR defender Damien Delaney has launched a scathing attack on the way Flavio Briatore runs the club, saying they have 'no chance' of success.
Delaney, who left Loftus Road to join Ipswich last summer, slammed Briatore's relentless policy of hiring and firing and insisted Rangers would have won promotion had the co-owner not sacked Iain Dowie.
Writing in Town's match programme on Monday, the Republic of Ireland international said: "When it happens every three months or so, like it does at QPR, you will never be successful. If you run a football club like that, you've got no chance.
"There's been no stability there since Flavio Briatore took over. You can't keep chopping and changing every five minutes - you need continuity, on and off the pitch.
"QPR have had seven managers in the last two years - they can't all be wrong. Look at Iain Dowie - he got sacked after 15 games. We were three points off second place. Crazy.
"The lads loved Dowie and, if he was left in charge, we would have got promoted to the Premier League. I guarantee you that."
However, Delaney was full of praise for QPR's fans, adding: "They are very passionate for their club. They are genuine, good people and they have been promised the earth but it's not been delivered yet.
"I should imagine they are very frustrated. Flavio has been at the club for two years or so now and said he would do this and do that and it's not happened. Kilburn Times
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/ca....3A47%3A11%3A687
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
Commenting About QPR, Hart, Briatore: Brian Glanville....Assisting QPR Membership Marketing
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
Brian Glanville/Sportstar on Wolves, Portsmouth and QPR
Going awry and amiss
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy insisted that he had done exactly the right thing to rest his first choice men against Manchester United in the Premiership match at Old Trafford.
Double, double, toil and trouble! To quote the witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. So much seems to be going awry and amiss in English football at the moment that it is difficult to know where to start. But let us begin with Wolverhampton Wanderers and their apparently suicidal decision to play Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premiership with 10 outfield changes from the team which, just a few days earlier, had astonished Spurs by beating them 1-0 at White Har t Lane. Needless to say, United simply strolled over Wolves reserves, winning 3-0 at their leisure. But Wolves’ manager, Mick McCarthy, Yorkshire-born former Eire international and manager of the World Cup Irish team in 2002 (when you’ll remember he had that ferocious row with Roy Keane) refused to plead guilty.
He had, he insisted, done exactly the right thing to rest his first choice men, given that a vital home match with Burnley loomed on the horizon the following Saturday. He even insisted that all those 10 players at Old Trafford were members of his first team squad and should be counted as such. For good or bad measure, he cited times when such as Manchester United themselves had done the same thing, though in United’s salient case, it was when a vastly significant European Cup game was in imminent prospect.
But there was surely and cogently another aspect to Wolves’ stratagem; it seriously affected those teams, such as Chelsea and Arsenal (Wenger was furious), who were pursuing United or even leading them at the top of the Premiership. They surely had every right to object to Wolves’ virtual surrender at Old Trafford. All very well for McCarthy to protest, somewhat unconvincingly, that the Burnley game involved potential relegation and he could not be sure that had his first choice men been in action at Old Trafford, some of them at last might have developed injuries. The blunt fact is that teams fielded below strength in the Premiership expose their club to a heavy fine. McCarthy must have known this full well; but however large the fine, the Old Trafford result stands and it wouldn’t help Arsenal or Chelsea.
At least Wolves at the moment seem financially secure. Elsewhere, there is so much gloom and doom. Especially at Portsmouth who, under the previous aegis of Harry Redknapp, now in charge at Tottenham, and the chairmanship of Sacha Gaydamak spent colossal sums of money on new, expensive players and actually, last May, won the FA Cup for the first time since 1939. Gaydamak always insisted that the money didn’t come from his controversial father, Arkadi, whom French courts have convicted for gun running and who cannot leave Israel for fear of arrest. Last September, in Israel, Gaydamak senior lost a court case to the Hong Kong domiciled tycoon, Balram Chainrai, which cost him £7 million and the ownership of a leading Israeli football club. But Chainrai it recently was who lent the latest Pompey owner Ali Al-Faraj millions of pounds to pay tax bills. Which still leaves the embattled club with colossal debts. Amounting, it’s reported, to some £60 million!
Al-Faraj, a Saudi, stepped in with £1.8 million, just enough to pay the players in September, replacing one Sulaiman Al-Fahim who, in the event, couldn’t remotely put his money where his mouth was. Meanwhile, Pompey, inexplicably and quite illogically, suddenly decided to sack their manager, Paul Hart, who was promptly installed at Queens Park Rangers, as we shall see. Yet Hart, once the Nottingham Forest centre-half and coach to Pompey’s juniors, had surely done a remarkable bricks-without-straw job, having been obliged to sell almost all his senior players, bar ’keeper David James, in the summer. Yet somehow managing to build a team which played excellent football — I saw them several times with admiration — but had scant luck with its results.
"In Hart’s place came Avram Grant, former manager of Chelsea after the exit of Jose Mourinho and once the coach to his native Israeli side. Chelsea’s players certainly liked Grant, who got them to within a whisker of winning in Moscow the 2008 European Cup Final, as shown when Chelsea’s Frank Lampard warmly embraced him before the teams recently met at Stamford Bridge. But the word was that — though he strongly denied it — under his Chelsea aegis, player power ruled. In his sudden appointment at Fratton Park one described ‘The Fine Israeli Hand’ of the “super agent” Pini Zuhavi who, in fact, had tried with others to buy the club before the fragile regime of Al-Fahim. Yes, my head is spinning, too.
At least Hart has quickly found a new billet at QPR in West London, and the so-called championship, though how long would he and any other manager be safe there? It will all depend on what happens to the flamboyant chief director, main force and millionaire, Flavio Briatore; still facing suspension from Formula One racing, having deliberately instigated that gratuitous racing crash. Briatore promptly resigned before F1 could officially punish him and insists that this means he cannot now be sentenced. But if he loses his current case against F1, he would automatically become, under Premier League rules, no longer a “fit and proper person” to be a club director.
What then? Briatore has fellow directors in two hugely rich men, Lakshmi Mittal and another motor racing mogul in Bernie Ecclestone. Yet they don’t seem to put any money into the club, which has relied on loans and cheap imports. Best player of all, who was there when the three took over, is surely that clever Hungarian playmaker, Akos Buzsaky who was physically assaulted at Watford (themselves now in desperate prospect of going into administration and thus losing 10 points, unable to repay a £4.88 million loan to ex-Chairman Russo) by manager Jim Magilton; consequently dismissed. The seventh manager sacked by Briatore, who’s made some odd choices. The first being Iain Dowie, who’d walked out of Crystal Palace (who sued him and won) been sacked by nearby Charlton and sacked again by Coventry City. You might also call Briatore politely a hands-on director. Predecessor as Chairman, Gianni Paladini, claimed to have been threatened with a gun in his office by a former director and others, made to sign away his Chairmanship. But when it came to court, all six defendants were mysteriously acquitted. Oh, for the days as Chairman of tough little Jim Gregory when QPR so nearly won the Championship! As it is, if
Hart is a far better choice than Dowie or for that matter Magilton, no more than Briatore goes, then so will the other tycoons, and what will happen then?
mediocre when in charge at Ipswich Town. But it is all too possible that, just as at Pompey, he will find the ground cut away from under his feet. SPorts
The Firm Goodfirm on Its Clients...Re QPR
The Brief:
QPR commissioned Goodform to design and project manage two new membership products for the adult and junior fans at the club.
The Work:
Goodform designed a new membership scheme for the club consisting of a selection of QPR branded merchandise, new presentation box and a range of added benefits, carefully selected to encourage participation in the scheme and create a closer affinity for members with the club.
Goodform has developed a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy to help drive continued sales of the product and target key QPR market sectors to raise awareness of the new membership scheme.
Feedback
Goodform has created a striking and thoughtful membership product that has been well received by all our participating members. QPR FC looks forward to working closely with the Goodform team to implement an innovative marketing strategy to drive future sales of the membership
Ali Russell - Deputy Managing Director, QPR Football Club
- Click on "View QPR Case Study PDF"
- About Goodform..and Goodform Clients
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- VIDEO "HIGHLIGHTS" - Ipswich vs QPR
- Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Year-by-Year
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- PFA Championship Player of the Month Nominees: George Boyd-Peterborough:
Darren Pratley- Swansea; Billy Sharp - Doncaster: Alan Smith-Newcastle
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
Brian Glanville/Sportstar on Wolves, Portsmouth and QPR
Going awry and amiss
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy insisted that he had done exactly the right thing to rest his first choice men against Manchester United in the Premiership match at Old Trafford.
Double, double, toil and trouble! To quote the witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. So much seems to be going awry and amiss in English football at the moment that it is difficult to know where to start. But let us begin with Wolverhampton Wanderers and their apparently suicidal decision to play Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premiership with 10 outfield changes from the team which, just a few days earlier, had astonished Spurs by beating them 1-0 at White Har t Lane. Needless to say, United simply strolled over Wolves reserves, winning 3-0 at their leisure. But Wolves’ manager, Mick McCarthy, Yorkshire-born former Eire international and manager of the World Cup Irish team in 2002 (when you’ll remember he had that ferocious row with Roy Keane) refused to plead guilty.
He had, he insisted, done exactly the right thing to rest his first choice men, given that a vital home match with Burnley loomed on the horizon the following Saturday. He even insisted that all those 10 players at Old Trafford were members of his first team squad and should be counted as such. For good or bad measure, he cited times when such as Manchester United themselves had done the same thing, though in United’s salient case, it was when a vastly significant European Cup game was in imminent prospect.
But there was surely and cogently another aspect to Wolves’ stratagem; it seriously affected those teams, such as Chelsea and Arsenal (Wenger was furious), who were pursuing United or even leading them at the top of the Premiership. They surely had every right to object to Wolves’ virtual surrender at Old Trafford. All very well for McCarthy to protest, somewhat unconvincingly, that the Burnley game involved potential relegation and he could not be sure that had his first choice men been in action at Old Trafford, some of them at last might have developed injuries. The blunt fact is that teams fielded below strength in the Premiership expose their club to a heavy fine. McCarthy must have known this full well; but however large the fine, the Old Trafford result stands and it wouldn’t help Arsenal or Chelsea.
At least Wolves at the moment seem financially secure. Elsewhere, there is so much gloom and doom. Especially at Portsmouth who, under the previous aegis of Harry Redknapp, now in charge at Tottenham, and the chairmanship of Sacha Gaydamak spent colossal sums of money on new, expensive players and actually, last May, won the FA Cup for the first time since 1939. Gaydamak always insisted that the money didn’t come from his controversial father, Arkadi, whom French courts have convicted for gun running and who cannot leave Israel for fear of arrest. Last September, in Israel, Gaydamak senior lost a court case to the Hong Kong domiciled tycoon, Balram Chainrai, which cost him £7 million and the ownership of a leading Israeli football club. But Chainrai it recently was who lent the latest Pompey owner Ali Al-Faraj millions of pounds to pay tax bills. Which still leaves the embattled club with colossal debts. Amounting, it’s reported, to some £60 million!
Al-Faraj, a Saudi, stepped in with £1.8 million, just enough to pay the players in September, replacing one Sulaiman Al-Fahim who, in the event, couldn’t remotely put his money where his mouth was. Meanwhile, Pompey, inexplicably and quite illogically, suddenly decided to sack their manager, Paul Hart, who was promptly installed at Queens Park Rangers, as we shall see. Yet Hart, once the Nottingham Forest centre-half and coach to Pompey’s juniors, had surely done a remarkable bricks-without-straw job, having been obliged to sell almost all his senior players, bar ’keeper David James, in the summer. Yet somehow managing to build a team which played excellent football — I saw them several times with admiration — but had scant luck with its results.
"In Hart’s place came Avram Grant, former manager of Chelsea after the exit of Jose Mourinho and once the coach to his native Israeli side. Chelsea’s players certainly liked Grant, who got them to within a whisker of winning in Moscow the 2008 European Cup Final, as shown when Chelsea’s Frank Lampard warmly embraced him before the teams recently met at Stamford Bridge. But the word was that — though he strongly denied it — under his Chelsea aegis, player power ruled. In his sudden appointment at Fratton Park one described ‘The Fine Israeli Hand’ of the “super agent” Pini Zuhavi who, in fact, had tried with others to buy the club before the fragile regime of Al-Fahim. Yes, my head is spinning, too.
At least Hart has quickly found a new billet at QPR in West London, and the so-called championship, though how long would he and any other manager be safe there? It will all depend on what happens to the flamboyant chief director, main force and millionaire, Flavio Briatore; still facing suspension from Formula One racing, having deliberately instigated that gratuitous racing crash. Briatore promptly resigned before F1 could officially punish him and insists that this means he cannot now be sentenced. But if he loses his current case against F1, he would automatically become, under Premier League rules, no longer a “fit and proper person” to be a club director.
What then? Briatore has fellow directors in two hugely rich men, Lakshmi Mittal and another motor racing mogul in Bernie Ecclestone. Yet they don’t seem to put any money into the club, which has relied on loans and cheap imports. Best player of all, who was there when the three took over, is surely that clever Hungarian playmaker, Akos Buzsaky who was physically assaulted at Watford (themselves now in desperate prospect of going into administration and thus losing 10 points, unable to repay a £4.88 million loan to ex-Chairman Russo) by manager Jim Magilton; consequently dismissed. The seventh manager sacked by Briatore, who’s made some odd choices. The first being Iain Dowie, who’d walked out of Crystal Palace (who sued him and won) been sacked by nearby Charlton and sacked again by Coventry City. You might also call Briatore politely a hands-on director. Predecessor as Chairman, Gianni Paladini, claimed to have been threatened with a gun in his office by a former director and others, made to sign away his Chairmanship. But when it came to court, all six defendants were mysteriously acquitted. Oh, for the days as Chairman of tough little Jim Gregory when QPR so nearly won the Championship! As it is, if
Hart is a far better choice than Dowie or for that matter Magilton, no more than Briatore goes, then so will the other tycoons, and what will happen then?
mediocre when in charge at Ipswich Town. But it is all too possible that, just as at Pompey, he will find the ground cut away from under his feet. SPorts
The Firm Goodfirm on Its Clients...Re QPR
The Brief:
QPR commissioned Goodform to design and project manage two new membership products for the adult and junior fans at the club.
The Work:
Goodform designed a new membership scheme for the club consisting of a selection of QPR branded merchandise, new presentation box and a range of added benefits, carefully selected to encourage participation in the scheme and create a closer affinity for members with the club.
Goodform has developed a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy to help drive continued sales of the product and target key QPR market sectors to raise awareness of the new membership scheme.
Feedback
Goodform has created a striking and thoughtful membership product that has been well received by all our participating members. QPR FC looks forward to working closely with the Goodform team to implement an innovative marketing strategy to drive future sales of the membership
Ali Russell - Deputy Managing Director, QPR Football Club
- Click on "View QPR Case Study PDF"
- About Goodform..and Goodform Clients
Who's Watching QPR: QPR Attendance Figures Season-by-Season
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- Goodform Company re Helping QPR Marketing Membership
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
- RIP: Allen Batsford
QPR ATTENDANCE FIGURES
- QPR currently have the 17th best (or 7th worst) attendance figures in the Championship) 2009/2010 Championship Club-by-Club Attendance Figures
2009/2010 13,409 (after 12 home games) (MagiltoN/Gallen-Bircham/Hart)
2008/2009 - 14,003 (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth)
2007/2008 - 13,958 (Gregory/Harford/De Canio)
* 2006/2007 - 12,936 (Waddock/Gregory)
2005/2006 - 13,440 (Holloway/Waddock)
2004/2005 - 16,055 (QPR's First back in the Championship after promotion)
2003/2004 - 14,784 (QPR Promotion Season)
2002/2003 - 13,206 (QPR Playoff Season)
* In the club takeover statement in September 2007, the document posted on the QPR Official Site declared "QPR is one of the best supported football clubs in the Championship with attendance at home games averaging approximately 20,000, in the 2006/2007 season." - QPR Official Site-"The Deal in Detail"
SOCCERNET December 28, 2009
1 Newcastle United 514,639 42,886
2 Derby County 348,500 29,041
3 Sheffield United 313,595 26,132
4 Leicester City 285,506 23,792
5 Nottingham Forest 283,856 23,654
6 Sheffield Wednesday 268,482 22,373
7 West Bromwich Albion 262,326 21,860
8 Ipswich Town 254,485 21,207
9 Cardiff City 230,654 20,968
10 Middlesbrough 242,861 20,238
11 Coventry City 212,976 17,748
12 Reading 206,535 17,211
13 Swansea City 185,000 15,416
14 Crystal Palace 178,756 14,896
15 Bristol City 174,636 14,553
16 Watford 170,133 14,177
17 Queens Park Rangers 160,913 13,409
18 Barnsley 157,481 13,123
19 Preston North End 140,409 12,764
20 Plymouth Argyle 116,973 10,633
21 Doncaster Rovers 114,366 10,396
22 Peterborough United 108,528 9,044
23 Blackpool 82,871 8,287
24 Scunthorpe United 75,659 6,878 Soccernet
Going Further Back...QPR Attendance Figures
1975/78 - 23,830
1976/77 - 21,085
1977/78 - 19,900
1978/79 - 16, 287 (Relegation under Burtensahw
1979/80 - 14,087
1980/81 - 10, 938 (Docherty/Venables)
1981/82 12,576 (Venables)
1982/83 - 12,806
1983/84 15,560 (First season back up)1984/85 14,148
1985/86 15,241
1986/87 13,987
1987/88 13,135
1988/89 12,286
1989/90 13,226
1990/91 13,524
1991/92 13,699
1992/93 14,969
Stats from an old Gordon Macey "Queens's Park Rangers..."
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- QPR Points Comparison: QPR at Year's End and End of the Season
- Goodform Company re Helping QPR Marketing Membership
- Arsenal and Raheem Sterling
- Briefly re QPR Scout: Les O'Neil
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Four Year Flashback: Newspapers List of "Top Twenty Players Outside The Premiership" (None QPR)
- Six Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy at Port Vale Decision
- Fourteen Years Ago: Nigel Quashie Made His QPR Debut
- RIP: Allen Batsford
QPR ATTENDANCE FIGURES
- QPR currently have the 17th best (or 7th worst) attendance figures in the Championship) 2009/2010 Championship Club-by-Club Attendance Figures
2009/2010 13,409 (after 12 home games) (MagiltoN/Gallen-Bircham/Hart)
2008/2009 - 14,003 (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth)
2007/2008 - 13,958 (Gregory/Harford/De Canio)
* 2006/2007 - 12,936 (Waddock/Gregory)
2005/2006 - 13,440 (Holloway/Waddock)
2004/2005 - 16,055 (QPR's First back in the Championship after promotion)
2003/2004 - 14,784 (QPR Promotion Season)
2002/2003 - 13,206 (QPR Playoff Season)
* In the club takeover statement in September 2007, the document posted on the QPR Official Site declared "QPR is one of the best supported football clubs in the Championship with attendance at home games averaging approximately 20,000, in the 2006/2007 season." - QPR Official Site-"The Deal in Detail"
SOCCERNET December 28, 2009
1 Newcastle United 514,639 42,886
2 Derby County 348,500 29,041
3 Sheffield United 313,595 26,132
4 Leicester City 285,506 23,792
5 Nottingham Forest 283,856 23,654
6 Sheffield Wednesday 268,482 22,373
7 West Bromwich Albion 262,326 21,860
8 Ipswich Town 254,485 21,207
9 Cardiff City 230,654 20,968
10 Middlesbrough 242,861 20,238
11 Coventry City 212,976 17,748
12 Reading 206,535 17,211
13 Swansea City 185,000 15,416
14 Crystal Palace 178,756 14,896
15 Bristol City 174,636 14,553
16 Watford 170,133 14,177
17 Queens Park Rangers 160,913 13,409
18 Barnsley 157,481 13,123
19 Preston North End 140,409 12,764
20 Plymouth Argyle 116,973 10,633
21 Doncaster Rovers 114,366 10,396
22 Peterborough United 108,528 9,044
23 Blackpool 82,871 8,287
24 Scunthorpe United 75,659 6,878 Soccernet
Going Further Back...QPR Attendance Figures
1975/78 - 23,830
1976/77 - 21,085
1977/78 - 19,900
1978/79 - 16, 287 (Relegation under Burtensahw
1979/80 - 14,087
1980/81 - 10, 938 (Docherty/Venables)
1981/82 12,576 (Venables)
1982/83 - 12,806
1983/84 15,560 (First season back up)1984/85 14,148
1985/86 15,241
1986/87 13,987
1987/88 13,135
1988/89 12,286
1989/90 13,226
1990/91 13,524
1991/92 13,699
1992/93 14,969
Stats from an old Gordon Macey "Queens's Park Rangers..."
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Arsenal Pursuit of QPR's Raheem Sterling
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to Previous Seasons
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Holloway's Happy Days
Mirror Football - Arsenal step up bid to sign QPR wonderkid dubbed 'the next Wayne Rooney' - 29/12/09 By Darren Lewis
- Arsene Wenger will step up his bid to sign 15-year-old wonderkid Raheem Sterling next month - to stave off interest from a host of other clubs.
- The Arsenal boss has had the lightning-quick QPR striker - rated as highly as the young Wayne Rooney - watched on several occasions, including Rangers' reserve game against Aldershot earlier this month, which finished in a 2-2 draw.
- Since that match Sterling, who turned 15 on December 8, has been promoted to training with the west London club's first team.
- Rangers had been ready to make him the youngest first-teamer in their history in order to ward off the Premier League big guns.
- But the change of management which has seen Jim Magilton replaced by Paul Hart, plus the bad weather, has seen his debut shelved.
- Sterling is still on course to beat the Football League record set by Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who made his Barnsley debut at the age of 15 years and 45 days last season.
- But Hart, under pressure to deliver a play-off place, may not necessarily have Sterlingís future at the top of his agenda.
- Rangers are also well aware that even first-team football may not convince their rising star to stay once a firm offer from one of his many suitors comes in.
- Sterling has also been watched by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City after he impressed at England Under-16 level as Kenny Swainís team clinched the Victory Shield.
- In total 12 different Premier League clubs watched Sterling on that occasion
- Although he is being tracked by the biggest clubs in the country Sterling is said to favour a move to the Emirates because of Wenger's record of success with young players.
- That said, Wenger is still set to move quickly to prevent Arsenal being drawn into a fight for the player's services. Mirror
- The next Theo Walcott? 10 things you Need to Know About Raheem Sterling
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to Previous Seasons
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Holloway's Happy Days
Mirror Football - Arsenal step up bid to sign QPR wonderkid dubbed 'the next Wayne Rooney' - 29/12/09 By Darren Lewis
- Arsene Wenger will step up his bid to sign 15-year-old wonderkid Raheem Sterling next month - to stave off interest from a host of other clubs.
- The Arsenal boss has had the lightning-quick QPR striker - rated as highly as the young Wayne Rooney - watched on several occasions, including Rangers' reserve game against Aldershot earlier this month, which finished in a 2-2 draw.
- Since that match Sterling, who turned 15 on December 8, has been promoted to training with the west London club's first team.
- Rangers had been ready to make him the youngest first-teamer in their history in order to ward off the Premier League big guns.
- But the change of management which has seen Jim Magilton replaced by Paul Hart, plus the bad weather, has seen his debut shelved.
- Sterling is still on course to beat the Football League record set by Reuben Noble-Lazarus, who made his Barnsley debut at the age of 15 years and 45 days last season.
- But Hart, under pressure to deliver a play-off place, may not necessarily have Sterlingís future at the top of his agenda.
- Rangers are also well aware that even first-team football may not convince their rising star to stay once a firm offer from one of his many suitors comes in.
- Sterling has also been watched by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City after he impressed at England Under-16 level as Kenny Swainís team clinched the Victory Shield.
- In total 12 different Premier League clubs watched Sterling on that occasion
- Although he is being tracked by the biggest clubs in the country Sterling is said to favour a move to the Emirates because of Wenger's record of success with young players.
- That said, Wenger is still set to move quickly to prevent Arsenal being drawn into a fight for the player's services. Mirror
- The next Theo Walcott? 10 things you Need to Know About Raheem Sterling
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
Buzsaky Urges Patience...Man Ut's Heaton Not Returning to QPR...Criticism of Ipswich Visiting Ticket Prices
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to Previous Seasons
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
London Informer/Yann Tear - Buzsaky begs Rangers boo-boys for patience Dec 29 2009
- Akos Buzsaky has begged the QPR boo-boys to be patient after their stuttering form continued at Ipswich yesterday.
- The midfielder's decent showing in the Boxing Day win against Bristol City - playing centrally behind the strikers - was not repeated in Monday's chastening 3-0 reverse at Portman Road, where he was given a wide role.
- The result was another setback in an inconsistent campaign that has now brought just one win in eight matches - and boos in the game that did yield three points.
- But Buzsaky is pleading for patience and understanding about the team's recent struggles.
- He said: "At QPR the last few years, the new owners came and they signed decent players and we have a strong squad, so everyone expects us always to play brilliantly.
- “Of course the fans sometimes don't like it, but we have to accept that football is about getting points and getting promotion and play-off positions and we can't always play well."
London Informer
Rochdale Official Site Keeping Heaton On
Mon 28 Dec 2009
- No it's nothing to with the cold snap - Dale and Man Utd have agreed to extend Tom Heaton's loan spell at Dale.
- Agreement was reached with Mancheester United's goalkeeping coach Eric Steele to extend Heaton's stay at Spotland until January 23rd 2010 when it officially expires on 31st December 2009. The deal does include a 24 hour recall for the Reds.
- Heaton said, "I'll delighted to be staying at Spotland I am loving my time here. To be honest I've been blown away by the standards in place at the club. The level of coaching is as good as I've seen at any club and better in some cases.
- "I have heard the term team Rochdale banded about and after seeing just what the supporters did to get this game on I can understand the logic. From top to bottom this club is one the fans can be proud of and I'm sure they can make it this time. I'm just happy to still be here and to do my bit to help the club."Rochdale
Morning Star - Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR
- Apparently there's a recession on. Someone better tell Ipswich Town then.
- On the field an energetic performance spearheaded by Jon Stead pushed aside QPR, but the real talking point lay off the field, where QPR fans had to pay £41.50 to watch Championship football. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?
Premier League clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Champions League-chasing Aston Villa all charge less than Ipswich for visiting supporters.
No-one at the club was available for comment on the ticket situation, but QPR season ticket holder Mike Illsley was far from impressed with the prices.
"Forty pounds to watch two average Championship teams is an absolute outrage," the lifelong Rangers fan said.
"When QPR were charging extortionate prices, the FA stood up and rightly changed the pricing system.
"But this situation will just get swept under the carpet. It seems like one rule for QPR and another for other teams."
From an Ipswich perspective, £40 was a fair sum of money to pay for an excellent performance.
From the first whistle, Roy Keane's side were sharper, more creative and more passionate than their lacklustre opponents.
Jon Walters started the scoring on three minutes when he zipped down the left flank, dropped his shoulder to shift the ball onto his right and drove an effort in off Kaspars Gorkss.
Adel Taarabt was the only source of imagination in the Rangers side. His trickery was a constant threat, but the Moroccan would have been disappointed after spurning two fantastic chances late in the first half.
Ipswich had to wait till the 78th minute to double their lead when Stead curled a wonderful effort from the edge of the area past a helpless Radek Cerny.
The goal killed the game as a contest and Stead grabbed his second minutes later as he smashed home the rebound from a Walters cross-shot.
A great day for Ipswich, but a torrid one for QPR and their fans. "Dejected and now out of pocket," said Illsley as he left the ground. Morning Star
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to Previous Seasons
- Ben Watson Returning to Wigan
- Holloway's Happy Days
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say 1967)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
London Informer/Yann Tear - Buzsaky begs Rangers boo-boys for patience Dec 29 2009
- Akos Buzsaky has begged the QPR boo-boys to be patient after their stuttering form continued at Ipswich yesterday.
- The midfielder's decent showing in the Boxing Day win against Bristol City - playing centrally behind the strikers - was not repeated in Monday's chastening 3-0 reverse at Portman Road, where he was given a wide role.
- The result was another setback in an inconsistent campaign that has now brought just one win in eight matches - and boos in the game that did yield three points.
- But Buzsaky is pleading for patience and understanding about the team's recent struggles.
- He said: "At QPR the last few years, the new owners came and they signed decent players and we have a strong squad, so everyone expects us always to play brilliantly.
- “Of course the fans sometimes don't like it, but we have to accept that football is about getting points and getting promotion and play-off positions and we can't always play well."
London Informer
Rochdale Official Site Keeping Heaton On
Mon 28 Dec 2009
- No it's nothing to with the cold snap - Dale and Man Utd have agreed to extend Tom Heaton's loan spell at Dale.
- Agreement was reached with Mancheester United's goalkeeping coach Eric Steele to extend Heaton's stay at Spotland until January 23rd 2010 when it officially expires on 31st December 2009. The deal does include a 24 hour recall for the Reds.
- Heaton said, "I'll delighted to be staying at Spotland I am loving my time here. To be honest I've been blown away by the standards in place at the club. The level of coaching is as good as I've seen at any club and better in some cases.
- "I have heard the term team Rochdale banded about and after seeing just what the supporters did to get this game on I can understand the logic. From top to bottom this club is one the fans can be proud of and I'm sure they can make it this time. I'm just happy to still be here and to do my bit to help the club."Rochdale
Morning Star - Ipswich Town 3-0 QPR
- Apparently there's a recession on. Someone better tell Ipswich Town then.
- On the field an energetic performance spearheaded by Jon Stead pushed aside QPR, but the real talking point lay off the field, where QPR fans had to pay £41.50 to watch Championship football. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?
Premier League clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Champions League-chasing Aston Villa all charge less than Ipswich for visiting supporters.
No-one at the club was available for comment on the ticket situation, but QPR season ticket holder Mike Illsley was far from impressed with the prices.
"Forty pounds to watch two average Championship teams is an absolute outrage," the lifelong Rangers fan said.
"When QPR were charging extortionate prices, the FA stood up and rightly changed the pricing system.
"But this situation will just get swept under the carpet. It seems like one rule for QPR and another for other teams."
From an Ipswich perspective, £40 was a fair sum of money to pay for an excellent performance.
From the first whistle, Roy Keane's side were sharper, more creative and more passionate than their lacklustre opponents.
Jon Walters started the scoring on three minutes when he zipped down the left flank, dropped his shoulder to shift the ball onto his right and drove an effort in off Kaspars Gorkss.
Adel Taarabt was the only source of imagination in the Rangers side. His trickery was a constant threat, but the Moroccan would have been disappointed after spurning two fantastic chances late in the first half.
Ipswich had to wait till the 78th minute to double their lead when Stead curled a wonderful effort from the edge of the area past a helpless Radek Cerny.
The goal killed the game as a contest and Stead grabbed his second minutes later as he smashed home the rebound from a Walters cross-shot.
A great day for Ipswich, but a torrid one for QPR and their fans. "Dejected and now out of pocket," said Illsley as he left the ground. Morning Star
QPR's (Wigan's!) Ben Watson Returning to Wigan: Other Clubs Interested
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to PRevious Seasons
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
re Ben Watson - Wigan Today - 29 December 2009 By Paul Kendrick
- Latics midfielder Ben Watson's future will be decided within the next few weeks, according to boss Roberto Martinez.
- The former Crystal Palace player has spent the first part of the season on loan at QPR and with that agreement about to expire, the Latics manager admitted that other clubs have announced interest in taking the 24-year old.
- "We're going to speak with Ben as soon as his loan finishes and we'll decide how he feels about the whole situation," Martinez told the Evening Post.
- "We had a few other clubs that approached us with the idea of having Ben.
- "The most important thing is to see how he has developed since he has been at QPR and we'll make a decision then." - Watson joined the club last January but fell out of favour when Martinez replaced Steve Bruce in the summer.
- Despite remaining adamant that his key players would not be leaving the club, the Spaniard did admit that he would be sympathetic to any requests from out-of-favour players wanting to play more first-team football.
- "It's always a possibility in any squad," he added.
"You always get players who want to play every week and sometimes they feel like they need a fresh challenge.
- "I'm delighted that we don't have to sell players to balance the books – that's the best news for our fans. If there is any movement, it will be for the good of Wigan Athletic.
- "If we let players go, it will be to let them have a fresh start elsewhere, not because we have to weaken our squad...."
- Although the general focus of the transfer window with regard to Latics is players leaving, Martinez insists that all he is interested in is strengthening.
He added: "It is important in January that we help the players that we have already got in with a couple of new faces that can help us in
bringing a different dimension in our play.
"All sides get one or two injuries and in the second half of the campaign you normally get suspensions.
"We need to make sure we are as strong as we can be." Wigan Today
- Flashback: Ben Watson Joins QPR: What QPR and Wigan Said QPR: "... deal until December 31st, although the R's do have the option of extending the deal when the January transfer window opens" and "The Wigan man has penned an initial four month loan at Loftus Road, but Rangers have the option of extending that deal once the January transfer window opens in 2010"
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-2010 Season Compared to PRevious Seasons
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
re Ben Watson - Wigan Today - 29 December 2009 By Paul Kendrick
- Latics midfielder Ben Watson's future will be decided within the next few weeks, according to boss Roberto Martinez.
- The former Crystal Palace player has spent the first part of the season on loan at QPR and with that agreement about to expire, the Latics manager admitted that other clubs have announced interest in taking the 24-year old.
- "We're going to speak with Ben as soon as his loan finishes and we'll decide how he feels about the whole situation," Martinez told the Evening Post.
- "We had a few other clubs that approached us with the idea of having Ben.
- "The most important thing is to see how he has developed since he has been at QPR and we'll make a decision then." - Watson joined the club last January but fell out of favour when Martinez replaced Steve Bruce in the summer.
- Despite remaining adamant that his key players would not be leaving the club, the Spaniard did admit that he would be sympathetic to any requests from out-of-favour players wanting to play more first-team football.
- "It's always a possibility in any squad," he added.
"You always get players who want to play every week and sometimes they feel like they need a fresh challenge.
- "I'm delighted that we don't have to sell players to balance the books – that's the best news for our fans. If there is any movement, it will be for the good of Wigan Athletic.
- "If we let players go, it will be to let them have a fresh start elsewhere, not because we have to weaken our squad...."
- Although the general focus of the transfer window with regard to Latics is players leaving, Martinez insists that all he is interested in is strengthening.
He added: "It is important in January that we help the players that we have already got in with a couple of new faces that can help us in
bringing a different dimension in our play.
"All sides get one or two injuries and in the second half of the campaign you normally get suspensions.
"We need to make sure we are as strong as we can be." Wigan Today
- Flashback: Ben Watson Joins QPR: What QPR and Wigan Said QPR: "... deal until December 31st, although the R's do have the option of extending the deal when the January transfer window opens" and "The Wigan man has penned an initial four month loan at Loftus Road, but Rangers have the option of extending that deal once the January transfer window opens in 2010"
QPR in Perspective: QPR's 2009-10 Season Compared to Previous Seasons
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
QPR AT YEAR'S END COMPARED TO PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS
- December 31, 2009 (Magilton/Gallen/Hart) QPR have 33 points from 24 games
- On December 31, 2008 (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa) QPR had 38 points from 26 games.
- On December 31, 2007 (Gregory/De Canio), QPR had 27 points from 25 games
- On December 31, 2006 (Waddock/Gregory), QPR had 27 points from 26 games
- On December 31, 2005 (Holloway/Waddock) QPR had 35 points from 27 games
- On December 31, 2004 (Holloway), QPR had 33 point from 26 games (Jan 1 victory: 34 points after 27 games)
Also: [QPR stats compared to Last Season]
QPR's END OF SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP FINISHES
- [Currently have 33 points from 24 games]
- 2008-2009, (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth) QPR finished with 61 points
- 2007-2008, (Gregory/De Canio) QPR finished with 58 points
- 2006-2007, (Waddock/Gregory)QPR finished with 53 points
- 2005-2006, (Holloway/Waddock) QPR finished with 50 points.
- 2004-2005 (Holloway), QPR finished with 62 points
[2001-2002, 2002-2003 & 2003-2004, QPR were in the "Third Division" (albeit a different name!]
- 2000-2001 (Francis/Holloway), QPR relegated with 40 points.
- 1999-2000 (Francis) QPR finished with 66 points
- 1998/1999 (Harford/Francis) ended 47 points.
- 1997/1998 (Houston/Harford) QPR stayed up 49 points.
- 1996/1997 (Wilkins/Houston), QPR finished with 66 points.
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Ipswich vs QPR: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Flashbacks "Sailing in Safe Waters" & Arrivals & Departures in 2006
- World Top Agents to Meet
- Manchester United Give Edwin Van Sar Compassionate Leave
- Manchester City Fans NOT Sympathetic to Mark Hughes
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
QPR AT YEAR'S END COMPARED TO PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS
- December 31, 2009 (Magilton/Gallen/Hart) QPR have 33 points from 24 games
- On December 31, 2008 (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa) QPR had 38 points from 26 games.
- On December 31, 2007 (Gregory/De Canio), QPR had 27 points from 25 games
- On December 31, 2006 (Waddock/Gregory), QPR had 27 points from 26 games
- On December 31, 2005 (Holloway/Waddock) QPR had 35 points from 27 games
- On December 31, 2004 (Holloway), QPR had 33 point from 26 games (Jan 1 victory: 34 points after 27 games)
Also: [QPR stats compared to Last Season]
QPR's END OF SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP FINISHES
- [Currently have 33 points from 24 games]
- 2008-2009, (Dowie/Ainsworth/Sousa/Ainsworth) QPR finished with 61 points
- 2007-2008, (Gregory/De Canio) QPR finished with 58 points
- 2006-2007, (Waddock/Gregory)QPR finished with 53 points
- 2005-2006, (Holloway/Waddock) QPR finished with 50 points.
- 2004-2005 (Holloway), QPR finished with 62 points
[2001-2002, 2002-2003 & 2003-2004, QPR were in the "Third Division" (albeit a different name!]
- 2000-2001 (Francis/Holloway), QPR relegated with 40 points.
- 1999-2000 (Francis) QPR finished with 66 points
- 1998/1999 (Harford/Francis) ended 47 points.
- 1997/1998 (Houston/Harford) QPR stayed up 49 points.
- 1996/1997 (Wilkins/Houston), QPR finished with 66 points.
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
Monday, December 28, 2009
Briatore's QPR Crash Against Ipswich...Compilation of Reports and Comments
-
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy Today
IPSWICH 3 QPR 0 -
- Updated Table
QPR Official Site - HART: 'IT'S HARD TO SWALLOW'
Paul Hart admitted that his side's inability to take their chances in the first half against Ipswich Town played a large part in their defeat at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys scored as early as the fourth minute thanks to Jon Walters, though Rangers had a handful of chances to level the match after the opening goal of the game.
But the R's were made to pay half-time, as Jon Stead stole the show with a double after the break to give Roy Keane's men victory in Suffolk.
QPR manager Hart told www.qpr.co.uk: "I felt the first half performance warranted a better return than we got. We were even unfortunate for the first goal, which took a deflection to loop over the keeper.
"But after that I felt we should have had a penalty and Adel (Taarabt) should have scored from a great cross, he was in front of goal.
"We thought if we could replicate the performance in the first half that we could get a draw. We felt that (we could have gone into half-time leading), I think we lost our legs a little bit."
The Rangers boss also added that his side must improve defensively in the weeks to come, as QPR travel to Sheffield United in third round of the FA Cup before playing Plymouth Argyle at home in the league six days later.
"It's hard to swallow, the goals that are going in at the moment are not great goals - we're the architects of our own downfall," explained Hart.
"As you all know, goals change games QPR
QPR Official Site
Jon Stead was at the double, as Paul Hart suffered his first loss in charge of Rangers at Portman Road.
The home side took the lead as early as the fourth minute, with Jon Walters prodding home - with the help of a Peter Ramage deflection - past Radek Cerny to open the scoring.
The scoreline remained the same until after the break, where Ipswich sealed the points with two goals from Stead midway into the second half.
First, Stead turned his marker before curling the ball past Cerny on the edge of the area, before it was that man again who followed up an initial shot to ensure a maximum return for Roy Keane's men.
R's manager Hart made two alterations to the side that were victorious at home to Bristol City just two days ago.
Adel Taarabt returned to take up a place in midfield, while Damion Stewart came back into the QPR defence after a one-match suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams.
Akos Buzsaky and Taarabt both started out wide, with skipper Mikele Leigertwood partnering Ben Watson at the heart of the R's midfield.
Wayne Routledge and Jay Simpson headed the QPR attack.
On a bitingly cold Monday afternoon in Suffolk, it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead as early as the fourth minute.
Stern John sent Jon Walters through down the left, before he cut into the area past Peter Ramage and buried the ball - with the help of a deflection off the Rangers full-back - into the back of the net.
Moments later, Taarabt received the ball on midway and drove at the Ipswich defence, before firing just wide of Arran Lee-Barrett's right-hand post.
At the other end, the hosts could - and should - have doubled their advantage when Grant Leadbitter's corner from the right found an unmarked Gareth McAuley, but he could only head wide of the target.
Soon after, Jaime Peters' cross to Walters caused all sorts of confusion when the striker bumped into Cerny from close-range, though Stewart was aware of the danger to clear the ball away to safety.
From the resulting set-piece, Leadbitter put in another superb delivery that was headed just over by Damien Delaney.
Play then switched to the other end, where QPR had their best opportunity to date to score. Good play down the right from the Ramage saw his delivery find the free Taarabt, but he could only head wide.
Rangers won a free-kick down the right moments later, and when Watson's cross found the free-again Taarabt, he missed the target once more - blasting well over the crossbar from just six yards.
The home side were soon back on the offensive. Walters was involved once again, sending Jon Stead away down the left before the striker cut in to shot, but his effort was blocked away by Stewart in the penalty box.
As the half drew to a close, Leigertwood played the ball to Taarabt just past midway before he blasted at goal from well outside the area, but his attempt was caught by Lee-Barrett in the Town goal.
Rangers had the first chance as the second period got underway. Taarabt fed Simpson in the area at a tight angle, but he could only shoot wide of the goal when under pressure from his marker on the right.
Soon after, Watson's corner from the right eventually found its way to Leigertwood on the edge of the area, who blasted well over the crossbar.
At the other end, the Tractor Boys won a free-kick 30-yards out, where Leadbitter shot straight at Cerny.
The R's were helpless only minutes later though, when Town extended their lead to two goals.
Ipswich substitute Owen Garvan played a ball from deep in the 63rd minute up to the edge of the area into the path of Stead, who held off and turned Gorkss with brilliance, before bending the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Stead was then in the thick of the action once again, running at the Rangers defence before cutting in and sending in a curling shot that was straight at Cerny in the QPR net.
Play then turned to the other end, where Taarabt received the ball down on the left before shooting well over the goal.
Before Routledge played in a delicious centre to the newly-introduced Patrick Agyemang, who headed over from close-range for the R's.
It was to be Ipswich's day though, and after Walter broke away and into the area down the right in the 78th minute, his shot was parried into the path of Stead, who struck home for number three.
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris (Colback 54), Peters, Stead, Walters, John (Wickham 75), Rosenior, Edwards (Garvan 54).
Subs not used: Bruce, Counago, McLoughlin, Brown.
Goals: Walters (4), Stead (63 & 78)
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Agyemang 66), Gorkss, Watson, Williams, Simpson, Taarabt (Balanta 78).
Subs not used: Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Taylor, Borrowdale.
Referee: Mr S Tanner
Attendance: 25, 340 QPR
IPSWICH OFFICIAL SITE
A double from Jon Stead and a first-half opener from Jon Walters saw Town finish 2009 on a high with three points at Portman Road.
Walters gave Blues the perfect start with the opener after four minutes and he could have grabbed a second soon after before Adel Taarabt wasted Rangers' best two chances midway through the half.
Stead put Town in command with a superb turn and strike just past the hour and then wrapped up the points with a close range finish - his fifth goal in his last six starts - as Town made it just one defeat in 11 games.
David Norris returned to the side for the first time since sustaining knee ligament damage on the opening day of the season at Coventry, with Walters, Grant Leadbitter and Stern John also included as Roy Keane made four changes to the team that went down at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Jaime Peters' pace was used at left-back to counter the threat of Wayne Routledge and that was tested as early as the third minute when the Canada international did well to thwart the winger as Adel Taarabt threaded a pass through the Town defence.
Seconds later Blues were ahead, John fed Walters down the left and his shot appeared to be deflected off Kaspars Gorkss before beating Cerny.
Stead, cleared to play after Town appealed against his red card at Selhurst Park, almost got on the end of Walters' pass, Gareth McAuley then sending a free header from Leadbitter's corner over the bar.
Walters had a great chance to extend Town's lead on the quarter hour, Peters found him with a superb pass eight yards out but the Blues' skipper couldn't force the ball home.
Damien Delaney headed wide against the club he left to join Town in the summer, Walters showing good strength to carve out an opening for Stead but the frontman's shot was blocked.
Rangers should have been level on 22 minutes, Taarabt failing to find the target with a header from six yards out from Routledge's cross, the same player guilty of another glaring miss a minute later when he volleyed over from a great position following a free-kick from Ben Watson.
Walters had a shot blocked by Tom Williams, McAuley clearing from Jay Simpson at the other end with Taarabt wasting the last opening of an entertaining first-half, almost hitting the corner flag with a 25 yard drive.
Town made a double change on 54 minutes, Norris and Carlos Edwards making way for Jack Colback and Owen Garvan.
Leadbitter curled a free-kick straight at Cerny before Town extended the lead on 63 minutes, Garvan found Stead on the edge of the box and the former England U21 international curled a right footer past Cerny.
Walters had a shot blocked by Williams, QPR then making a first change with Patrick Agyemang on for the ineffective Buzsaky.
Cerny saved well from Stead as Town threatened a third, Arran Lee-Barrett saving low down and comfortably from Peter Ramage's long range effort. Connor
Wickham replaced John for the last 15 minutes, the teenager firing over before Blues made it three, Walters' cross palmed out by Cerny and Stead did the rest from close range.
QPR made a second change with Angelo Balanta on for Taarabt, who faded after a bright first-half but it was Town who continued to carve out openings,
Walters denied by Williams' challenge inside the box and Stead was prevented from grabbing a hat-trick by the outstretched leg of Cerny, the striker then seeing a left foot shot goes inches wide as Blues ended the year in style. Ipswich
Sporting Life
Two goals from Jon Stead inspired Ipswich to a comfortable victory over QPR and their fourth win of the Coca-Cola Championship season.
Stead was only playing because Town appealed the red card he received at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and he made the most of his reprieve with two second-half strikes.
The first was a superbly taken effort from the edge of the area just after the hour and he doubled his tally 15 minutes later with a simple tap-in.
Town were already ahead by the time Stead netted as they needed just four minutes to go in front after Jonathan Walters finished following a good solo run.
It was a poor showing from Rangers, who tasted defeat under Paul Hart for the first time, although they wasted two good chances to level in the first half, Adel Taraabt the guilty party as he missed the target on both occasions.
The much-needed win means Roy Keane's men end a poor year on a high, with just their third home win of the season, while QPR head into the new year hoping to put a turbulent 2009 behind them.
Ipswich got off to the perfect start when they took the lead inside the opening four minutes.
Stern John fed Walters and he ran towards goal, beat his full-back and fired past Radek Cerny into the bottom corner to notch his sixth goal of the season
Keane's men continued their early dominance and had three golden opportunities to extend their lead.
First Gareth McAuley headed over from a corner when unmarked, before Walters wasted a fine chance as he dawdled and after a scramble the ball hit the post and was cleared.
And from the resulting corner Damien Delaney headed over when he should have at least tested Cerny.
Having found themselves lucky not to be 3-0 down, QPR finally began to stir and fashioned out two fine chances to equalise, with both falling to Taraabt.
The midfielder put the ball just wide of the post with a glancing header from a good position and 90 seconds later he fired over from close range.
QPR were keen to get back into the game and controlled the opening period of the second half. However, they were unable to produce anything telling in the final third and Ipswich keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was not tested.
And then Ipswich stuck the knife in when they doubled their lead just after the hour and it was a fine finish by Stead.
Owen Garvan fed the ball into the striker's feet and he managed to turn his defender with ease before slamming home from the edge of the area.
Ipswich then made sure of the three points when Stead got his sixth of the season by tapping the ball home after good work from Walters with 12 minutes remaining.
And the former England Under-21 striker really should have bagged a hat-trick but he wasted two good opportunities late on in the game.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/liv....Nightlead. html
- QPR (and Fulham) ostensibly Interested in Italian Player, Gianvito Plasmati
- Amos Buzsaky Speaks About QPR, post-Magilton
- Damien Delaney on QPR-Behind-The-Scenes
- Flashback: Thirty-Five Years Ago: QPR Crush Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
- NEXT: Ipswich vs QPR: Previews, Updates and Past Results
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
Watford Observer/Frank Smith -Watford talking to Arsenal and QPR over the future of Henri Lansbury and Heidar Helguson Watford Observere
- Ex-QPR Richard Langley Hits30 - Born December 27, 1979
- Helguson should be back this week.
- Antonio Caliendo Back to being a big-time agent
- Video Snippets: QPR vs Chelsea (1970, FA Cup QF) and Millwall vs QPR (1988)
- Football Gangs and the English Defense League (EDL)
- Portsmouth (Dire) Financial Situation
QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Check out the cutting-edge/continually-updated/football-only, quasi-blog/quasi-board QPR Report Messageboard! (Also: Feel free to check out the recently-created, general football blog Football Observer)
- Changing His Name to "Queens Park Rangers"
- Frank McLintock Turns Seventy Today
IPSWICH 3 QPR 0 -
- Updated Table
QPR Official Site - HART: 'IT'S HARD TO SWALLOW'
Paul Hart admitted that his side's inability to take their chances in the first half against Ipswich Town played a large part in their defeat at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys scored as early as the fourth minute thanks to Jon Walters, though Rangers had a handful of chances to level the match after the opening goal of the game.
But the R's were made to pay half-time, as Jon Stead stole the show with a double after the break to give Roy Keane's men victory in Suffolk.
QPR manager Hart told www.qpr.co.uk: "I felt the first half performance warranted a better return than we got. We were even unfortunate for the first goal, which took a deflection to loop over the keeper.
"But after that I felt we should have had a penalty and Adel (Taarabt) should have scored from a great cross, he was in front of goal.
"We thought if we could replicate the performance in the first half that we could get a draw. We felt that (we could have gone into half-time leading), I think we lost our legs a little bit."
The Rangers boss also added that his side must improve defensively in the weeks to come, as QPR travel to Sheffield United in third round of the FA Cup before playing Plymouth Argyle at home in the league six days later.
"It's hard to swallow, the goals that are going in at the moment are not great goals - we're the architects of our own downfall," explained Hart.
"As you all know, goals change games QPR
QPR Official Site
Jon Stead was at the double, as Paul Hart suffered his first loss in charge of Rangers at Portman Road.
The home side took the lead as early as the fourth minute, with Jon Walters prodding home - with the help of a Peter Ramage deflection - past Radek Cerny to open the scoring.
The scoreline remained the same until after the break, where Ipswich sealed the points with two goals from Stead midway into the second half.
First, Stead turned his marker before curling the ball past Cerny on the edge of the area, before it was that man again who followed up an initial shot to ensure a maximum return for Roy Keane's men.
R's manager Hart made two alterations to the side that were victorious at home to Bristol City just two days ago.
Adel Taarabt returned to take up a place in midfield, while Damion Stewart came back into the QPR defence after a one-match suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams.
Akos Buzsaky and Taarabt both started out wide, with skipper Mikele Leigertwood partnering Ben Watson at the heart of the R's midfield.
Wayne Routledge and Jay Simpson headed the QPR attack.
On a bitingly cold Monday afternoon in Suffolk, it was the Tractor Boys who took the lead as early as the fourth minute.
Stern John sent Jon Walters through down the left, before he cut into the area past Peter Ramage and buried the ball - with the help of a deflection off the Rangers full-back - into the back of the net.
Moments later, Taarabt received the ball on midway and drove at the Ipswich defence, before firing just wide of Arran Lee-Barrett's right-hand post.
At the other end, the hosts could - and should - have doubled their advantage when Grant Leadbitter's corner from the right found an unmarked Gareth McAuley, but he could only head wide of the target.
Soon after, Jaime Peters' cross to Walters caused all sorts of confusion when the striker bumped into Cerny from close-range, though Stewart was aware of the danger to clear the ball away to safety.
From the resulting set-piece, Leadbitter put in another superb delivery that was headed just over by Damien Delaney.
Play then switched to the other end, where QPR had their best opportunity to date to score. Good play down the right from the Ramage saw his delivery find the free Taarabt, but he could only head wide.
Rangers won a free-kick down the right moments later, and when Watson's cross found the free-again Taarabt, he missed the target once more - blasting well over the crossbar from just six yards.
The home side were soon back on the offensive. Walters was involved once again, sending Jon Stead away down the left before the striker cut in to shot, but his effort was blocked away by Stewart in the penalty box.
As the half drew to a close, Leigertwood played the ball to Taarabt just past midway before he blasted at goal from well outside the area, but his attempt was caught by Lee-Barrett in the Town goal.
Rangers had the first chance as the second period got underway. Taarabt fed Simpson in the area at a tight angle, but he could only shoot wide of the goal when under pressure from his marker on the right.
Soon after, Watson's corner from the right eventually found its way to Leigertwood on the edge of the area, who blasted well over the crossbar.
At the other end, the Tractor Boys won a free-kick 30-yards out, where Leadbitter shot straight at Cerny.
The R's were helpless only minutes later though, when Town extended their lead to two goals.
Ipswich substitute Owen Garvan played a ball from deep in the 63rd minute up to the edge of the area into the path of Stead, who held off and turned Gorkss with brilliance, before bending the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Stead was then in the thick of the action once again, running at the Rangers defence before cutting in and sending in a curling shot that was straight at Cerny in the QPR net.
Play then turned to the other end, where Taarabt received the ball down on the left before shooting well over the goal.
Before Routledge played in a delicious centre to the newly-introduced Patrick Agyemang, who headed over from close-range for the R's.
It was to be Ipswich's day though, and after Walter broke away and into the area down the right in the 78th minute, his shot was parried into the path of Stead, who struck home for number three.
Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Delaney, McAuley, Leadbitter, Norris (Colback 54), Peters, Stead, Walters, John (Wickham 75), Rosenior, Edwards (Garvan 54).
Subs not used: Bruce, Counago, McLoughlin, Brown.
Goals: Walters (4), Stead (63 & 78)
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Agyemang 66), Gorkss, Watson, Williams, Simpson, Taarabt (Balanta 78).
Subs not used: Hall, Connolly, Faurlin, Taylor, Borrowdale.
Referee: Mr S Tanner
Attendance: 25, 340 QPR
IPSWICH OFFICIAL SITE
A double from Jon Stead and a first-half opener from Jon Walters saw Town finish 2009 on a high with three points at Portman Road.
Walters gave Blues the perfect start with the opener after four minutes and he could have grabbed a second soon after before Adel Taarabt wasted Rangers' best two chances midway through the half.
Stead put Town in command with a superb turn and strike just past the hour and then wrapped up the points with a close range finish - his fifth goal in his last six starts - as Town made it just one defeat in 11 games.
David Norris returned to the side for the first time since sustaining knee ligament damage on the opening day of the season at Coventry, with Walters, Grant Leadbitter and Stern John also included as Roy Keane made four changes to the team that went down at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
Jaime Peters' pace was used at left-back to counter the threat of Wayne Routledge and that was tested as early as the third minute when the Canada international did well to thwart the winger as Adel Taarabt threaded a pass through the Town defence.
Seconds later Blues were ahead, John fed Walters down the left and his shot appeared to be deflected off Kaspars Gorkss before beating Cerny.
Stead, cleared to play after Town appealed against his red card at Selhurst Park, almost got on the end of Walters' pass, Gareth McAuley then sending a free header from Leadbitter's corner over the bar.
Walters had a great chance to extend Town's lead on the quarter hour, Peters found him with a superb pass eight yards out but the Blues' skipper couldn't force the ball home.
Damien Delaney headed wide against the club he left to join Town in the summer, Walters showing good strength to carve out an opening for Stead but the frontman's shot was blocked.
Rangers should have been level on 22 minutes, Taarabt failing to find the target with a header from six yards out from Routledge's cross, the same player guilty of another glaring miss a minute later when he volleyed over from a great position following a free-kick from Ben Watson.
Walters had a shot blocked by Tom Williams, McAuley clearing from Jay Simpson at the other end with Taarabt wasting the last opening of an entertaining first-half, almost hitting the corner flag with a 25 yard drive.
Town made a double change on 54 minutes, Norris and Carlos Edwards making way for Jack Colback and Owen Garvan.
Leadbitter curled a free-kick straight at Cerny before Town extended the lead on 63 minutes, Garvan found Stead on the edge of the box and the former England U21 international curled a right footer past Cerny.
Walters had a shot blocked by Williams, QPR then making a first change with Patrick Agyemang on for the ineffective Buzsaky.
Cerny saved well from Stead as Town threatened a third, Arran Lee-Barrett saving low down and comfortably from Peter Ramage's long range effort. Connor
Wickham replaced John for the last 15 minutes, the teenager firing over before Blues made it three, Walters' cross palmed out by Cerny and Stead did the rest from close range.
QPR made a second change with Angelo Balanta on for Taarabt, who faded after a bright first-half but it was Town who continued to carve out openings,
Walters denied by Williams' challenge inside the box and Stead was prevented from grabbing a hat-trick by the outstretched leg of Cerny, the striker then seeing a left foot shot goes inches wide as Blues ended the year in style. Ipswich
Sporting Life
Two goals from Jon Stead inspired Ipswich to a comfortable victory over QPR and their fourth win of the Coca-Cola Championship season.
Stead was only playing because Town appealed the red card he received at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and he made the most of his reprieve with two second-half strikes.
The first was a superbly taken effort from the edge of the area just after the hour and he doubled his tally 15 minutes later with a simple tap-in.
Town were already ahead by the time Stead netted as they needed just four minutes to go in front after Jonathan Walters finished following a good solo run.
It was a poor showing from Rangers, who tasted defeat under Paul Hart for the first time, although they wasted two good chances to level in the first half, Adel Taraabt the guilty party as he missed the target on both occasions.
The much-needed win means Roy Keane's men end a poor year on a high, with just their third home win of the season, while QPR head into the new year hoping to put a turbulent 2009 behind them.
Ipswich got off to the perfect start when they took the lead inside the opening four minutes.
Stern John fed Walters and he ran towards goal, beat his full-back and fired past Radek Cerny into the bottom corner to notch his sixth goal of the season
Keane's men continued their early dominance and had three golden opportunities to extend their lead.
First Gareth McAuley headed over from a corner when unmarked, before Walters wasted a fine chance as he dawdled and after a scramble the ball hit the post and was cleared.
And from the resulting corner Damien Delaney headed over when he should have at least tested Cerny.
Having found themselves lucky not to be 3-0 down, QPR finally began to stir and fashioned out two fine chances to equalise, with both falling to Taraabt.
The midfielder put the ball just wide of the post with a glancing header from a good position and 90 seconds later he fired over from close range.
QPR were keen to get back into the game and controlled the opening period of the second half. However, they were unable to produce anything telling in the final third and Ipswich keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was not tested.
And then Ipswich stuck the knife in when they doubled their lead just after the hour and it was a fine finish by Stead.
Owen Garvan fed the ball into the striker's feet and he managed to turn his defender with ease before slamming home from the edge of the area.
Ipswich then made sure of the three points when Stead got his sixth of the season by tapping the ball home after good work from Walters with 12 minutes remaining.
And the former England Under-21 striker really should have bagged a hat-trick but he wasted two good opportunities late on in the game.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/liv....Nightlead. html
- QPR (and Fulham) ostensibly Interested in Italian Player, Gianvito Plasmati
- Amos Buzsaky Speaks About QPR, post-Magilton
- Damien Delaney on QPR-Behind-The-Scenes
- Flashback: Thirty-Five Years Ago: QPR Crush Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
- NEXT: Ipswich vs QPR: Previews, Updates and Past Results
- Football League Cup at Fifty: Vote for your Favourite Moment (Say for example, in 1967....!
- QPR's Indian Football Involvement
Watford Observer/Frank Smith -Watford talking to Arsenal and QPR over the future of Henri Lansbury and Heidar Helguson Watford Observere
- Ex-QPR Richard Langley Hits30 - Born December 27, 1979
- Helguson should be back this week.
- Antonio Caliendo Back to being a big-time agent
- Video Snippets: QPR vs Chelsea (1970, FA Cup QF) and Millwall vs QPR (1988)
- Football Gangs and the English Defense League (EDL)
- Portsmouth (Dire) Financial Situation